Shelly Vendiola, Swinomish / Visayan (Co-founder)

Shelly is an enrolled member of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Visayan. She has served as an educator, facilitator, activist, and mediator for over 30 years. She co-founded the Native Community Engagement and Peacemaking Project and offers consultation in areas such as facilitation, community engagement services, leadership development, strategic planning, organizational mapping, dispute resolution, interest-based negotiations, and peacemaking circles nationwide. Currently, she works as the Community Engagement and Cultural Director for the Na’ah Illahee Fund and serves on the boards of the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Skagit YMCA. She continues to work in partnership with the Swinomish Department of Environmental Protection and serves as Co-Chair of the Protect Mother Earth Subcommittee. Shelly created a place-based curriculum focusing on the history and culture of the Swinomish people. For over ten years, she taught a series of cultural sovereignty courses at the Northwest Indian College-Coast Salish Institute, as part of their Native Studies Leadership Program.

Previously, her team provided leadership and consultation for the Lummi Cedar Project - Organized Generations Healthy Lifestyles Program. Ms. Vendiola served as President for the national Indigenous Women's Network and a Campaign Director for the Indigenous Environmental Network. Shelly received several years of formal dispute resolution training from the Indian Dispute Resolution Services, Inc., and the SF Community Boards Program. She is the recipient of the Native Action Network's Enduring Spirit Award and a recognized peacemaker and educator in the Northwest region. Shelly holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education and incorporates indigenous pedagogy and research methodologies into all aspects of her work. Following in her father's footsteps, Shelly is passionate about gardening, a certified Yoga instructor, and practices the ancient form of meditation known as Qi Gong to achieve balance, energy, and resilience. Her motto is, "There is nothing permanent in the world but change, the key is how we flow with it!"
Diane Vendiola, Swinomish / Filipina (Co-founder)

Diane Vendiola is a retired Minority Behavioral Health Specialist and served as a supervisor and counselor for the Swinomish Tribal Mental Health Program for 20 years. She also served as a Tribal Peacemaker for the Northwest Intertribal Court System since 1985, and has facilitated meetings and mediations for tribal organizations, individuals, and families. She developed conflict resolution training for school staff serving Native Americans, Native American parent groups, youth organizations, and tribal leaders, as well as tribal social service providers. Diane is currently providing services to Native American individuals and families residing in Skagit County, as well as cultural consultation to area mental health service providers working with Native American and/or Filipino American clients. Diane was born and raised in Seattle’s International District and is the mother of five adult offspring. She has been a long-time advocate for American Indian mental health and education programs based on cultural values, with mainstream services as an adjunct.

Diane is a great-grandmother to two great-grandchildren, has nine grandchildren, five adult children, and is an elder Aunt to many. She received her A.A. degree from Skagit Valley College and an honorary degree from Western Washington State University. Four of her adult children hold Master's degrees in Education, and one has a Bachelor’s degree in English-Writing. And two of her grandchildren have college degrees. Diane considers herself a lifelong learner and teaches many young people the importance of celebrating life and wellness.
​Shasta Cano-Martin, Lhaq'temish (Lummi)
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Shasta Cano-Martin (Lummi) was a former councilwoman elected to the Lummi Indian Business Council in 2013. As the Secretary of the council, she served her tribal nation with a wealth of leadership experience. Currently, Shasta serves in the restorative justice program of the tribal court. She is a member of the Board of the Center for Ethical Leadership and the Lummi Cultural Arts Association. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors for the Bellingham YWCA, Whatcom County Council of Governments’ Community Transportation Advisory Group, Lummi Planning Commission, and the Lummi Ventures Program.

Shasta has held several other leadership roles with the Lummi Nation, including serving as Executive Director of the Lummi CEDAR Project, a Native non-profit organization focused on youth leadership and development. The CEDAR Project unites respected tribal elders, steeped in Lummi traditions and values, with Lummi youth, who carry the Nation’s dreams and aspirations. With their elders’ support, tribal youth lead positive change throughout the Lummi Reservation and beyond. Shasta is a skilled facilitator and has a Master of Education from Western Washington University.
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Ellany Kayce, Tlingit

Ellany Kayce is a tribal consultant and an enrolled tribal member of the Tlingit Nation, Raven Clan. She is a traditional drummer, singer, and dancer.  Ellany has worked and volunteered in the Native American/Alaska Native community for over 30 years. Recently, she has been involved with the Native Soka Gakkai International, where she serves as a Group Leader and Facilitator for the Sophia Study Group of the Rainier Valley Chapter.  She worked as a Tribal Partnership Specialist for the U.S. Dept of Commerce/Census Bureau, developing partnerships with urban Indian organizations, tribes, schools, colleges, universities, towns, and hospitals within 3 counties of the Seattle area. Ellany conducted research, networked, and signed agreements with over 180 partners in 3 counties. These partnerships were with agencies, tribal entities, and businesses worth over $800,000 of “value-added” agreements. While serving as a Planner for the Duwamish Tribal Services, Inc., she assisted in raising over $1.5 million towards the building of their new Longhouse.
 
As a co-founder of the Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission in 2008, Ellany assisted in organizing the “Bringing Civil Rights to Indian Country” and the 3rd Annual National Border Town Racism Conference. As a Cultural Consultant with Pathfinders School, she planned, led, organized, and provided cultural instruction and activities for students in grades K through 8 in 2007. As a Training Development Program Manager for the City of Seattle, Ellany played a key role in coordinating and producing an effective diversity training program for the Mayor’s initiative, serving a large audience of 25 departments and 10,000 city employees. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from City University in 1983. She earned a 4.0 GPA in the Supervision and Management Certificate Program at South Seattle Community College in 1988.  She has practiced Buddhism since 1973.